EODA may partner with Ohio BR&E

Published: July 8, 2003 8:00 PM

DELLROY -- The East Ohio Development Alliance may team with a Columbus agency to further economic development of the region.

During their quarterly meeting Tuesday at Atwood Lake Resort and Conference Center, EODA members learned of how the organization can tap the expertise of The Ohio Business Retention and Expansion Initiative.

Dawn Malone, director of the Ohio BR&E, said EODA can partner with her agency for as little as $6,800.

That figure reflects a $5,600 base fee and a fee of $300 for each participating county. A minimum of four counties must participate.

Were every EODA member county to participate, the total fee would tally to $10,400.

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Unfortunately, in these tight economic times, the EODA budget simply does not have an extra $5,600, President Don Myers said.

A solution might be for the member counties to divvy EODA share, one member suggested. If each of the 16 member counties were to $650, rather than $300, the partnership could proceed.

EODA Executive Director Dale Hileman said the potential benefits of a partnership with the Ohio BR&E are so promising that EODA and its members should do everything possible to help it come to fruition.

"We can sit on our laurels," Hileman said, "or we can move ahead. This is what this organization is for."

What does the partnership offer EODA?

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Malone said that, in essence, the Ohio BR&E Initiative offers:

Economic development, research and business operations expertise.

Low-cost, packaged BR&E tools and training for a regional program that can meet the needs of local communities.

"On the ground" in-state program delivery and support.

The agency will help EODA in planning and in training team members. It will help develop and conduct surveys in the various counties. And it will provide software (and training for operating the software) to make sense of the data collected.

EODA representatives will check with their colleagues in their home counties to learn whether they would be amenable to an expenditure of $650. They will report back at the next EODA meeting in October.